NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. <D 



the, quite broad, dull white inner margins of the primaries. The rectrices 

 are very broadly edged on both their interior and exterior margins with pure 

 white; which decreases in width on successive feathers till reduced to a 

 minimum, or almost obsolete on the median pair. The bird is pure white 

 below, except a faint wash of very pale sulphury olivaceous on the sides and 

 flanks. The white of the breast is a little encroached on by an extension of 

 a light shade of the plumbeous of the sides of the neck. 



Variations. Specimens taken in July and August, in very worn and faded 

 plumage, have the upper parts dull grayish brown instead of clear plumbeous, 

 the olivaceous of the rump barely appreciable, and that of the sides very 

 faint. The white margins of the wings and tail are either entirely wanting 

 or reduced to a minimum. The markings of the sides of the head are more 

 indistinct. In this state of plumage, however, it. cannot be malidentified ; 

 for it is even more unlike any other North American Vireo than when in per- 

 fect condition. Specimens vary to a moderate degree in dimensions, but the 

 colors of equally mature specimens are remarkably constant. 



Remarks The relationships of this species are decidedly with V. solitarius ; 

 sharing with that species and flavifrons, etc., the compact stout form, robust 

 and short bill, etc. The coloration of the head is very similar to that of 

 solitarius, but the other differences are too great to render necessary any com- 

 parison between the two. Vireo plumbeus is the plainest-colored species 

 except V. vicinior, infra, as well as one of the largest and stoutest species of 

 the United States. The name is peculiarly expressive of its most striking 

 feature. 



This is the species referred to by me in Newton's Ibis for April, 1865, page 

 164, as " Vireo, most like solitarius." 



117. Vireo vicinior Coues, nov. sp. 



Sp. Ch. First primary spurious ; half as long as second ; second very 

 short, about equal to eighth or ninth ; fourth, fifth and sixth longest; third 

 but little shorter ; the wing thus being made short and much rounded. Tail 

 very long ; as long as the wings ; decidedly rounded ; rectrices with rounded, 

 not acute tips. Bill very short, but robust and deep at base. Tarsus much 

 longer than middle toe and claw ; toes all short ; the outer about equalling 

 the inner, much shorter than the middle toe without its claws. Entire upper 

 parts with sides of head and neck dull plumbeous, gradually gaining a tinge 

 of olivaceous towards rump. A narrow white ring around eye. No dis- 

 tinctly defined stripes on side of head, nor dark lores. Wing coverts, quills 

 and rectrices very slightly, if at all, bordered with white. Below entirely 

 pure white ; a hardly appreciable tinge of the slightest possible shade of 

 sulphury olivaceous on sides under wings. Bill and feet horn bluish black. 

 Length 5-70; extent 8-60; wing from carpus 2-50; tail the same : exposed 

 portion of first primary -75; of second 1-50; bill -36; tarsus -70; middle 

 toe and claw -52 ; inner do. -35 ; outer do. *42. 



Habitat. Fort Whipple, Arizona. Type and only known specimen No. 

 1507 of my collections, (40,697 Smithsonian Register,) adult male, May 24th, 

 1865. Very rare ; probably a summer resident, wintering in the Gila and 

 Lower Colorado valleys, or in Sonora. 



Description. The bill is short, but quite stout, very deep at the base, 

 where it is compressed and higher than broad ; the culmen very regularly 

 convex in outline from the base to the moderately decurved, hooked, notched 

 tip. The wings are short and remarkably rounded, the spurious primary so 

 long as to be half the length of the second quill; which latter equals the 

 eighth ; there is but very little difference in length between the third, fourth, 

 fifth and sixth ; the first and last named, especially the former, being a little 

 less than the other two. The tail is very long, equalling the wing from the 

 carpus, and somewhat graduated ; the lateral rectrices being -20 of an inch 

 shorter than the median pair; and all are rounded at their extremities. The 



1866.] 



